ES2636789T3 - How to control views on a touch screen visual presentation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A visual display device (20, 220) comprising: a processor (24) for executing a program that responds to a numerical input to generate a visual display of information from a plurality of sources (38); a visual display device (30, 120) having a touch screen (130, 230); and a controller (24) for controlling said visual display (30, 120) to display the output of said program, wherein: the program is executed in response to two simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a display simultaneous display of information from a first number of sources (38), the program is executed in response to three simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a simultaneous display of information from a second number of sources (38) , and the program is executed in response to four simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a simultaneous display of information from a third number of sources (38).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Way to control views on a touch screen visual presentation device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the control of visual presentation devices and more particularly, to control visual presentation devices that have touch screens and a plurality of information sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable visual presentation devices such as smartphones and electronic tablets are widely used for a variety of purposes. With WiFi, 3G, 4G connections and similar elements, these devices are increasingly used with applications that allow wireless connection to information sources, including not only broad sources such as the World Wide Web, but also private networks.

By way of example, said visual presentation devices have been used by security personnel when they move inside a building, with the devices receiving, wirelessly, distant data such as alarms as well as images and / or video signals from security cameras located around the area that is insured. It should be noted that the vision of the security camera video signal when a guard moves around a building cannot only allow the guard to be able to see potential problems regardless of where they are in the building, but can also allow a Advance vision in areas where you are about to enter to be warned of any possible danger or situation so that you can be prepared and do not be surprised when you enter that area.

It should be appreciated that it is desirable for security personnel to be able to see views of different cameras as quickly as possible. As an example, in some operational instances, it may be desirable to see as many views as possible for an overview of the activity in a building. In other operational instances, it may be desirable to see only a few views in relation to a specific area of interest at that time. In addition, depending on your vision ability, a different security staff may prefer, in general, different sizes of the viewing area to feel confident that they can see what they need to see. Given that the portability of visual presentation devices usually restricts the magnitude of the screen that security personnel should look to receive information, a different security staff may require that different numbers of display areas be provided simultaneously to make sure that the magnitude of each zone is adequate for the person using the device at that time.

Although visual display devices have, so far, allowed security personnel to control the visualization so that a desired number (and / or size) of the display areas will be provided, such switching has required passing through menu systems . These menu systems are not usually intuitive, and they can also be time consuming and may require strict user attention of the device (to make sure that the correct menu options are found and that they are the selected ones [eg, by contact, as required with the typical touch screen displays]), all of which can be a serious problem when, as an example, security personnel are under stress and rushed when they react to a potentially dangerous situation. In addition, such menu systems may occupy an area on the screen, which causes the display areas for the camera to have to be adjusted for smaller spaces.

The present invention is intended to solve one or more of the above problems.

United States patent application US 2010/073312 A1 discloses a multimedia player comprising: a processor for executing a program in response to a numerical input to generate a display of information from a plurality of sources; a visual presentation device that has a touch screen; and a controller to control said visual presentation to show the output of said program, wherein the program is executed in response to a single contact or two or more simultaneous contacts on said touch screen to select a video source identified by a number corresponding to the number of finger contacts, from a plurality of video sources (eg, TV, PC, USB, DVD, AV).

US patent application US 2002/0097322 discloses a system for capturing, encoding and transmitting a continuous video signal from one or more cameras, used in an input application by numeric key, to a visual display device , which includes an interface where a map is provided on a visual display that illustrates the location of the cameras.

US patent application US2010 / 0031344 discloses an electronic device with a multiple touch screen, which can detect a sequence of user inputs by determining the number of simultaneous contact points and converting this sequence into a machine-readable character.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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The present invention in its various aspects is as set forth in the appended claims.

In one aspect of the inventive idea, a visual presentation device is disclosed, which includes a processor to execute a program in response to a numerical input, a visual presentation device that has a touch screen and a controller to control the visualization. to show the output of the program. The program is executed in accordance with a numeric entry in response to two simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, is executed according to a second numeric entry in response to three simultaneous contacts on the touch screen and is executed in accordance with a third numeric entry in response to four simultaneous contacts on the touch screen.

In a form of this aspect of the inventive idea, the program generates a visualization of information from a plurality of sources, with the number of sources displayed in correspondence with the numerical entry.

In another aspect of the inventive idea, a visual presentation device is disclosed that includes a processor to execute a program that generates a display of information from a plurality of sources, a visual presentation that has a touch screen, and a controller to control the visual presentation. The visual presentation device is controlled to simultaneously provide a selected number of display areas on the screen, each of the display areas being to display information from the source of information, where the controller provides two display areas for the display. visual presentation in response to two simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, the controller provides three visualization zones for the visual presentation in response to three simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, and the controller provides four visualization zones for the visual presentation in response to Four simultaneous contacts on the touch screen.

In an embodiment of this aspect of the inventive idea, each of the contacts is a digit of a user of the visual presentation device that contacts the touch screen.

In another form of this aspect of the inventive idea, the controller controls the touch screen to provide a single display area for one of the information sources in response to two consecutive single contacts on the touch screen, with the single display area being the only visualization zone for any of the sources of information in the visual presentation.

In another form of this aspect of the inventive idea, the controller controls the touch screen to provide X display areas in response to Y simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, followed by Y simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, followed by Z simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, where X = Y + Z. In an additional way, Y = 3.

In another form of this aspect of the inventive idea, the sources of information are security cameras and the information is a video signal from the cameras. In additional form, the controller provides a video signal from cameras selected for visual presentation.

In another aspect of the inventive idea a visual presentation device is disclosed, which includes a monitor that has a touch screen, and a controller to control the visualization to simultaneously provide a selected number of visualization areas in the visual presentation, with each of the visualization zones being visualization information from information sources. The controller controls the display to include R display areas when the touch screen is subject to simultaneous contact R times and S display areas when the touch screen is subject to simultaneous contact T times followed by T simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, followed by U simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, where R, S, T and U are whole numbers, R is a selected value of 2, 3 or 4 and S> R.

In one form of this aspect of the inventive idea, T + U> R. In an additional form, T + U = S. In another form, T = 3 and U> 1.

In another way this aspect of the inventive idea, the sources of information are security cameras and the information is a video signal from the cameras. In another additional form, the controller provides a video signal from cameras selected for visual presentation.

In another aspect of the inventive idea, a visual presentation device is disclosed which includes a monitor that has a touch screen and a controller. The controller controls the monitor to simultaneously provide a selected number of display areas on the screen, each of the display areas being to display a video signal from a selected number of a plurality of distant security cameras. The controller controls the monitor to include R display areas when the touch screen is subject to simultaneous contact R times and S display areas when the touch screen is subject to simultaneous contact T times followed by T simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, followed by U simultaneous contacts on the touch screen, R, S, T and U being whole numbers, with R being a selected value of 2, 3 or 4, with S> R and T + U = S.

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In a form of this aspect of the inventive idea, T = 3 and U> 1.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from a review of the full specification, including the appended claims and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a visual presentation device as described herein, as used in a security environment in which the video signal comes from multiple security cameras that are available for visual presentation on the device;

Figures 2a-2b illustrate the operation of a visual display device as described herein, to change the display to show two display areas for two video signals;

Figures 3a-3b are similar to Figures 2a-2b but show the change in visual presentation to show three display areas;

Figures 4a-4b are similar to Figures 2a-2b and 3a-3b, but show the change in the visual presentation to show four display areas; Y

Figures 5a-5c illustrate the operation of another visual presentation device, as described herein, to change the visual presentation to show seven display areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Suitable visual presentation devices 20 usable in accordance with the inventive idea described herein are illustrated in the Figures. In broad terms, as illustrated in Figure 1, the device 20 may include a microcontroller or a microprocessor 24 and a memory 28. The microcontroller 24 can adequately control what is shown on a screen 30. The device 20 may also include a wireless receiver 34 which can receive, by way of example, video signals from a plurality of distant cameras 38.

It should be appreciated that the details of the visual presentation device 20 may vary from those illustrated in Figure 1, while one or more features of the inventive idea materializes. As an example, the microprocessor 24 could be preprogrammed and / or the memory 28 could be integral with the microprocessor 24. In addition, the information shown on the screen 30 does not need to be video signals, nor does it need to be received wirelessly or even from distance. The device and / or the method can, in particular, be advantageously used in security installations where the mobility of wireless communication is desired and the embodiment, in particular, described below, refers to said environment. However, it should be appreciated that the device and method, in relation to the ability to change, quickly and easily, the number of display areas that appear on a screen 30, can be advantageously used in numerous other applications with numerous types of data and information, including those in which multiple visualizations are initiated, locally, in microprocessor 24.

In accordance with an advantageous use of the device and method, a visual display device 120 as generally described in Figure 1, with a visual display of touch screen 130 (such as a smart phone, e.g., an iPhone ), is in communication with a plurality of security cameras 38 as illustrated in Figures 2a to 4b, with the video signal from only one of the cameras 38 shown on the touch screen monitor 130 in Figure 2a . It should also be appreciated that the visual presentation device can support multiple touch screens (such as Apple's Magic Track Pad) and can also be used with any contact-sensitive platform (including Apple iPads and computers using touch pads). In addition, it can be used with devices that use any video editing software (eg, Adobe Premier pro, iMovie, etc.).

If the user wishes to have a visual presentation mode in which the video signal from two cameras instead of just one as in Figure 2a is shown, he will make simultaneous contacts of the touch screen 130 twice (that is, contact the screen 130 with two fingers at the same time, as represented by the two circles 136 in Figure 2a). When performing this operation, the microprocessor 24 will change the display 130 to a view showing two different zones 140, 142 (as illustrated in Figure 2b) where, as an example, video signals from two different cameras 38.

It should be appreciated that the video signals shown in each zone 140, 142, can be selected in virtually any way in accordance with the inventive idea. By way of example, the selection can be preprogrammed (for example, video signals from two specific preselected cameras can be displayed automatically in the two viewing areas 140, 142), or a progression of video signals from different cameras can be displayed. , or video signals from specific cameras focused on an area where an alarm signal has been received that can be displayed in the display areas 140, 142. In addition, the video signals can be changed in a visual presentation mode with the user simply

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selecting a different video signal for a specific viewing area by using a suitable menu.

In Figure 3a, as in Figure 2a, the visual display device 130 has a unique display area for the video signal from a camera 38. If the user wishes to view the video signal from three cameras, he can contact Simultaneously the touch screen 130 three times (that is, contact the screen 130 with three fingers at the same time as represented by the three circles 136 in Figure 3a). When performing this operation, the visual display device 130 changes to a view showing three different zones 140, 142, 144 (as illustrated in Figure 3b) in which, by way of example, the video signals from three different cameras 38 can be displayed.

In Figure 4a, as in Figures 2a and 3a, the visual display device 130 has a unique display area for the video signal from a camera 38. If the user wishes to visualize the video signal from four cameras, You can simultaneously touch the touch screen 130 four times (that is, contact the screen 130 with four fingers at the same time as represented by the four circles 136 in Figure 4a). When performing this operation, the visual display device 130 changes to a view showing four different zones 140, 142, 144, 146 (as illustrated in Figure 4b), where, by way of example, they can be displayed Video signals from four different cameras 38.

It should be appreciated that the operations described above (with contacts on the touch screen 130 with the number of fingers representing the number of display areas 140-146 if so desired) can be performed in any mode of visual presentation (e.g., contacting the screen of Figure 2a with four fingers simultaneously that could be used to switch from a visual presentation with two display zones 140, 142 to a visual display with four display zones 140, 142, 144, 146 or vice versa) .

In addition, it should be appreciated that the visual presentation mode can be changed to a unique display area (as in Figures 2a, 3a and 4a) by a different operation. In a preferred embodiment, a single double contact (that is, contacting a finger twice in a short period of time) can be used to change the mode of visual presentation to a single display area. Said operation is intuitive enough to be easily remembered by any user, even when under stress or hurried, and advantageously, it will not run the risk of being confused for another order or operation (since the single contacts are widely used for numerous operations with the contact only being different depending on specifically where the contact occurs on the touch screen of the visual presentation device 130. This operation can be performed from any screen, (eg, from visual presentation modes with two, three or four zones of visualization 140-146 as illustrated in Figures 2b, 3b and 4b).

It should also be appreciated that the visual display device described above with an advantageous operation 120 may be of a relatively small size, where four separate display areas 140-146 may be the maximum desired to allow the user to see, of adequate form, with sufficient detail, what is visualized in each zone. However, it should be appreciated that the visual presentation devices may function in accordance with the inventive idea, described herein, to allow more than four display areas to be displayed simultaneously. In an advantageous embodiment, which can be performed, by way of example, with electronic tablet devices 220 (such as iPads) where the screen 230 can be large enough to easily support more than four display areas. In accordance with the inventive idea, the switching to visualizations that have more than four views can be carried out by an operation similar to that described in relation to the switching of two to four visualization zones, but with an initial pulse or stage.

That is, the electronic tablet device 220 illustrated in Figures 5a-5c can be operated as described above, so that, by way of example, the contact of the screen 230 simultaneously with four fingers caused the visual presentation 230 to show Four display areas. However, if more than four display areas are desired, the user may first simultaneously contact the touch screen 230 with three fingers (see circles 236 in Figure 5a) and then drag these three fingers on the screen (see arrows 237 in Figure 5a). The electronic tablet device 220 recognizes that said operation (with the drag) does not mean showing three display areas, but, instead, is an initial pulse to be completed with a next stage. After that initial stage, the user simultaneously contacts the screen 230 with a selected number of fingers (see sections 236 'in Figure 5b) to display the selected number of display areas 240-246 as illustrated in Figure 5c.

In an advantageous embodiment, in accordance with the inventive idea, the combination of the number of fingers in the two stages may be the number of display areas 240-246 to be shown on the screen 230. Thus, in the example illustrated in the Figures 5a-5c, the three-finger contact and drag followed by the four-finger contact makes the electronic tablet device 220 show seven display areas 240-246 as illustrated in Figure 5c, which makes the selection of 240-246 display areas as intuitive as when two, three or four screens are selected.

It should be appreciated that in numerous configurations, the display areas would be of the same size as illustrated, which would be within the scope of the inventive idea to provide display areas of different size. As an example, in the visual display device 230 illustrated in Figure 5c, if five display areas were selected (eg, by contacting and dragging three fingers and then by contacting with two fingers), one of the zones of 5 visualization could be of the size of four zones as illustrated in Figure 5c.

In addition, it should be appreciated that visual presentation devices having touch screen monitors can be controlled, intuitively and easily, by a user to display a selected number of visual presentation screens. Likewise, such change can be made without requiring close user attention (a user

10 could operate said devices to change the number of display areas without even looking at the screen),

said operation being especially advantageous for people such as security guards who could be distracted under a stress situation and / or in a hurried situation.

Although some embodiments have been described in detail previously, other modifications are possible.

15 By way of example, the device can be used in numerous applications where numerical inputs are desired for various operating scenarios. In addition, the operating stages of the devices that are disclosed could be in different orders as long as the desirable results are still achieved. Likewise, other components may be added to, or removed from, the described devices. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.

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Claims (6)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 1. A visual presentation device (20, 220) comprising: a processor (24) to execute a program that responds to a numerical input to generate a visual presentation of information from a plurality of sources (38); a visual presentation device (30, 120) having a touch screen (130, 230); Y a controller (24) to control said visual presentation (30, 120) to show the output of said program, wherein: the program is executed in response to two simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a simultaneous display of information from a first number of sources (38), The program is executed in response to three simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a simultaneous display of information from a second number of sources (38), and The program is executed in response to four simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230) to generate a simultaneous display of information from a third number of sources (38). 2. The visual presentation device (20, 220) according to claim 1, wherein: said program generates a visualization of information from 2 sources in response to two simultaneous contacts; said program generates a visualization of information from 3 sources in response to three simultaneous contacts; This program generates a visualization of information from 4 sources in response to four simultaneous contacts. 3. The visual presentation device (20, 220) according to claim 2, wherein each of said contacts comprises a finger of a user of the visual presentation device that comes into contact with said touch screen (130, 230). 4. The visual display device (20, 220) according to claim 1, wherein said controller (24) controls said touch screen (130, 230) to provide X display areas (140, 142, 144, 146) in response a Y simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230), followed by Y simultaneous dragging on said touch screen (130, 230), followed by Z simultaneous contacts on said touch screen (130, 230), wherein X = Y + Z. 5. The visual presentation device (20, 220) according to claim 1, wherein said sources of information (38) are security cameras (38) and said information is a video signal from said cameras (38). 6. The visual presentation device (20, 220) according to claim 5, wherein said controller (24) provides the video signal from the cameras (38) to said visual presentation device (30, 120).